Switch-stand.



J. B. STRONG.

SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION FILED 11111.25, 1911.

Patented Oct. 3, 19 11.

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TTFT) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES BOORMAN STRONG, OF HILLIBURN, NEW YORK.

SWITCH-STAND.

oeaosi.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Jaime BOORMAN STRONG, a citizen of the United States, residing atll-Iillburn, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, have invented certain new and 1 useful Improvements in Switch-Stands, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements inv and economical to manufacture.

Heretofore the Ramapo switch stands have been provided with a handle for manually operating the switch, which was pivoted to the inner sleeve of the stand and operatively secured to the lock block by means of lifting straps which were secured to the handle and the lock block respectively by means of tap bolts. The constant use of the switches, and particularly the ars and shocks incident to their use in connection with trailing switches, frequently caused these tap bolts to become loose and to fall out, thus releasing the lifting straps and preventing the switch from being operated manually. The position of said tap bolts also permitted them to be removed maliciously, thus interfering with the operation of the switch and preventing the same from being actuated by hand.

The primary object of this invention is to eliminate the use of lifting straps and of the tap bolts which secured the lifting straps to the handle and the lock block respectively.

A further object of the invention is to provide a direct connection between the handle and the lock block which will be positive in its operation, and which cannot be displaced or disconnected through any cause whatever except by dismantling the switch stand.

The various further objects of the inven tion will be more fully set forth in the following description of a switch stand embodying my invention, which consists in the new and novel features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved switch Specification of Letters Fatent.

Application filed March 25, 1911.

Patented Oct. 3, 1911.

Serial No. 616.932.

stand showing the casing broken away in part to more clearly disclose the construction. Fig. 2 is a detailed view showing the lock block in its raised position. Fi 3 represents a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4t is a side elevation showing a modified form of connection between the lock block and the handle. Fig. 5 represents a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

The casing 42; may be of any .well known form, preferably of the type commonly employed in the Ramapo switch stands. The spindle Z) is attached to the connecting rod 0 in the usual manner for operating the switch rails which are not illustrated. The upper portion of the spindle is preferably squared to receive a sleeve (Z, which is movably se-- cured to the spindle. A lock block 6 is movably mounted on the sleeve and is provided with a preferably squared shoulder 7 adapted to engage in a corresponding recess provided in a safety block 9 which is rotatably mounted in the casing. The safety block may be held in its operative position and prevented from remaining in a non-opera.- tive position by suitable safety mechanism of any preferred or well known construction which is not illustrated herein.

A handle it is provided for lifting the lock block out of engagement with the safety block, and thus permit the switch to be operated manually. Instead of being pivoted directly to the sleeve and operating the lock block through lifting straps, however, the handle it in my improved construction is pivoted to an arm or projection 71 secured to or formed integral with the sleeve d and extending outward so that the pivotal point .will be spaced a suitable distance from the sleeve. The handle it adjacent to its pivotal point is curved so as to form a reverse or ogee curve and engages directly with the locking block, which is provided with trunnions or project-ions j that engage in a cam groove is provided in the handle. It will be obvious, however, that the trunnions may be provided on the handle and engage in grooves formed in the locking block, or that the handle may seat directly in the groove Z as shown. Preferably the portion of the handle adjacent to the pivotal pointis bifurcated and the two parts are similarly constructed. A lug m provided with an eye 72 projects between the forks in the handles non-operative position, so that the handle may be locked in its non-operative position.

is positive both when being raised, and

lowered. By properly positioning the pivotal point ofv the handle and properly proportioning the cam groove and the cam surface on the, handle, sufficient leverage can be obtained to raise the locking block with only slight exertion.

It is obvious that my improved construction can be used either with or, without a safety attachment engaging a safety block,

It is obvious, also, that thesafety block and the stand base or. casing may be made integral with each other, and.

or a stand base,

squared in section. It is also obviousthat various other modificationswithin the skill of the mechanic may be made in the detailsof the mechanism herein set: forth without departing from the spirit ofthe invention,

provided the means set forth in the following claims be employed,

I claim as my invention 1. In a switch stand, the combination of a spindle, anarm secured to said spindle and rotatable therewith, a locking block for normally holding said spindle in its adjusted position, and a handle pivoted to said arm and engaging directly with said locking block for operating saidlocking block,

' 2. In a switch stand, the. combinationof a spindle, a locking block movable on the spindle, a separate part normally engaging said locking block, to hold the spindle against rotation, and a handle'carried by said spindle and directly conneetedwith the locking block to disengage same.

3. In a switch stand the combination of a spindle an arm secured to saidjspindle and rotatable therewith, a locking block movable on said spindle, a safety block normally engaging said locking block, a handle pivoted to said arm and engaging directly with the locking block to. disengage same from the safety block.

4. In a switch stand, the combination of a spindle, a locking block mounted on the spindle and rotatable therewith, a relatively stationary part normally engaging the Elocking block to hold the spindle against rotation, and a handle supported by the spindle and engaging directly with the lockiing block to disengage same from said relagtively stationary part.

1 5.'In a switch stand comprising a spinidle, a safety block, a locking block mounted ion the spindle and normally engaging the fisafety block to hold the spindle against rogtation, the combination of a curved handle having a cam surface formed thereon en- ;gaging with the locking block to disengage ;same from the safety block.

6. In a switch stand the combination of a gspindle, a locking block movable on the spindle, means normally engaging said lockging block to hold same and the spindle against rotation, a handle fulcrumed on isaid spindle and engaging the locking block, }and acam surface on one of said parts opjeratively engaging the other part, whereby the locking block may be released and the spindle rotated.

7 In a switch stand comprising a spindle, a safety block and a locking block movable 'on the spindle normally engaging said safety block to hold the spindle against rotation, the combination of an arm projecting from the spindle, and rotatable therewith, and a handle pivoted to said arm, said handle engaging directly with the locking block to disengage same from the safety block.

This specification signed and witnessed this 17th day of March, A. D., 1911.

JAMES BOORMAN STRONG.

Signed in the presence of- AMBRosn L. OSHEA, W. F. WHITTAKER.

Gopiesaof this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

